Family time and chestnut time

La Cerdanya prepared for the most familiar Castanyada

Next weekend is marked in red in the calendar of many young people (and not so young) for the celebration of Halloween, a festivity of Anglo-Saxon origin but which has taken root with notable force in Spain. However, in Cerdanya this festivity is combined with its own tradition, which serves as a preparation for All Saints' Day. It is about the chestnuts and is called Castanyada.

Traditional festivities versus imported

The Chestnut festivity (Castanyada, in Catalan) was established many years ago taking advantage of the abundance of this fruit in Cerdanya. In this way, families gather in the warmth of their homes and toast chestnuts on All Hallows' Eve, in the midst of the memory of those who are gone. In some houses it is also traditional to roast sweet potatoes or moniatos, which have a sweeter flavor that usually pleases the little ones.

Of course, the star delicacy of the day is the panellets, typical sweets made from almonds, pine nuts and sugar, although there are almost as many preparations as there are households (some cover them with chocolate, for example). Of course, such an appetizing bite can also be found in any pastry shop in Puigcerdà and the rest of the towns in the region.

In recent years, these deep-rooted traditions have shared the limelight with the most terrifying Halloween costumes. Thus, it has not been uncommon to see all kinds of "monsters" devouring panellets in the street (a curious and harmonious way of combining local and imported folklore). In many homes, the image of roasted chestnuts under the watchful eye of pumpkins (with their chilling smile) has become common.

In family and at home

As we have already seen, the Chestnut festivity or Castanyada is an eminently homelike event, especially in the circumstances that will surround the 2020 edition. The street parades will not happen in this occasion, but this does not avoid families from decorating their homes with the motifs most common on this day.

In a way, it is a return to the origins of both celebrations, when the bond with the family was closer and most of the activities were carried out at home. Be that as it may, with fire, chestnuts, moniatos, panellets, plastic skulls or Dracula costumes, the homes of Cerdanya will once again fight the cold in good company.